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Frequently Asked Questions

Please review some frequently asked questions about Commencement. If you have questions, please contact commencement.info@umassd.edu.

Please review the 2025 Commencement schedule for more information.

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Please show up 1 hour before the start of your ceremony for a fun check-in and line-up experience. Review the 2025 Commencement schedule for more information.

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For undergraduate and graduate students, you should have received an email from Tassel to confirm your attendance at Commencement. During that process, you will be assigned your digital reader card, aka Stage Pass. 

During your Commencement Ceremony, as you get ready to walk across the stage, our name reader will read your name and applicable honors. They will know that information from your reader card. This year, your phone will be your reader card with the help of Tassel and your Stage Pass.

If you did not receive an email regarding Tassel and Stage Pass, please email commencement.info@umassd.edu.

Want to know more about Tassel and Stage Pass? Visit Tassel’s Graduate Help Center.

Commencement Ceremonies are rain or shine. Umbrellas are allowed and ponchos will be made available to guests. Please note that the ceremony cannot be moved indoors due to size constraints.

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Each ceremony will take roughly two hours.

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There is no limit to the number of guests or tickets required for the Undergraduate/Graduate and Doctoral ceremonies.

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Guests do not need tickets for the Undergraduate/Graduate and Doctoral ceremonies.

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Caps and gowns are free and are delivered to campus for pickup at Countdown to Commencement on April 22. You will be notified of their arrival. The last day to order your cap and gown was March 5. If you did not order your cap and gown, the University receives enough for all graduates, and they will be available for pickup at Countdown to Commencement and before each Ceremony.

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Yes. At Commencement, your cumulative GPA determines your honor, and which honors cord you receive (Spring 2025 grades are not included). This information is sent to the vendor before caps and gowns are shipped, so the University does not make any exceptions or accommodations regarding the cord a student receives. However, when your degree is awarded, your transcript and diploma will include all UMass Dartmouth coursework, including the final semester. Honor cords are only for undergraduate students.

Honor cords signify:

  • 3.200 to 3.499 - Cum Laude - White
  • 3.500 to 3.799 Magna Cum Laude – Navy Blue
  • 3.800 to 4.000 Summa Cum Laude - Gold
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If you have not done so already, be sure to apply to graduate in COIN. Please note that Summer 2025 expected graduates will be eligible to apply for graduation once our Summer 2025 application opens in February. 

Visit the Graduation website to learn more about the application to graduate.

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Visit our Graduating Student List website to verify your name is in the Commencement program. Resources are available in the event your name is not on the list, or your degree name is not listed correctly.

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Yes, but Doctoral students and Law students have their own Ceremonies.

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You will attend the May 2025 Ceremonies if your expected graduation term is:

  • 2024 Fall
  • 2025 Winter
  • 2025 Spring
  • 2025 Summer
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If you’re a double major in the same ceremony, you can only walk for one College. If you’re a double major in two ceremonies, you can attend both and walk in both.

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Yes. Please review the information on our Accessibility & Accommodation Information website.

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Everyone entering campus will be directed where to park by staff members. Shuttles will be running from all lots to the Commencement venue.

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Only items placed in clear plastic bags will be permitted into the graduation ceremonies for security purposes. Additional bags will be available in parking lots and checkpoints during the ceremonies. No large purses, food, beverages, or wrapped packages are allowed. 

Prohibited items include:

  • Backpacks
  • Balloons/beach balls
  • Beverages
  • Coolers
  • Drones
  • Signs
  • Fireworks
  • Food
  • Laser pointers or similar items
  • Wrapped presents
  • Pets

All items not in a clear plastic bag are subject to inspection.

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Yes, all ceremonies will stream via our Commencement website.

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The TownePlace Suites Westport has group rates available for UMass Dartmouth Commencement Ceremony.